Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 11, 2026

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice
Published on: June 19, 2019
Overview of sleep: the neurologic processes of the sleep-wake cycle
1From the Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Abstract:
Sleep problems are common in adults and should be treated to improve overall health and safety. To choose the best treatment for patients with sleep problems, clinicians should understand the sleep-wake cycle and the stages of rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement sleep as well as the neurologic pathways of sleep and wake systems. The sleep- and wake-promoting systems are mutually inhibitory, with the predominantly active system determining if a person is awake or asleep. The orexin system also plays an important role in the stabilization of the sleep-wake cycle.
Related Concept Videos
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Stages of Sleep
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Understanding Consciousness
Sleep, a crucial state, is characterized by reduced...
Nightmares and Night Terrors
Nightmares...
Overview of Synapses

